Summary: After hearing about what Snape said to her little sister, Rose Evans comes back to Hogwarts to make sure he knows what a mistake he's made. Marauders Era. Songfic. Oneshot.
...
Rose was fuming. Her littlest sister, Lily, had called her crying and told her about what ickle Severus had called her.
Rose was the middle Evans' sister, a muggle-born witch. She was two years older than Snape or Lily, in her seventh year whilst her little sister was in her fifth. Christmas had just happened and she went home with her 'boyfriend', Amos Diggory, and his family, trying to get a job in London. Lily had stayed with Snape for Christmas at Hogwarts (They both wanted to stay away from Petunia and her delightful new boyfriend Victor or whatever). Rose always found the Slytherin a bit creepy. He always seemed to have this entitled complex, not unlike Potter, though either boy would loathe to admit it.
Rose rushed through the school, ignoring the gawking portraits. She made it to the sleeping fat lady.
"Hippogriff." Rose told her. The fat lady blinked her eyes open, disgruntled. She made some incoherent noises but swung the portrait open.
All eyes swerved to her but she ignored them. Storming through the common room, Rose grabbed the firewhisky out of Black's hands and took a generous swig, ignoring his complaints.
"Evans," A voice called. Rose turned to see James Potter. "How is she?"
"I wouldn't know, I just got here!" Rose snapped. She turned around to Lily's dorm room and rushed up the stairs.
…
"Hey, who invited the snake?"
Rose turned to see Marlene McKinnon climb in through the portrait hole. A sense of dread and anger filled her.
"Snake? You don't mean Snape?" Rose demanded. Marlene chewed on her lip but nodded. Rose cursed. The marauders stepped forward but Rose merely rolled her eyes. "I'm the one who defends her honour, not you idiots." Rose knew they were following her but couldn't care less. Snape was the one suffering her wrath.
"Rose!" Snape was paler than usual, his greasy hair long and messy. "Is Lily alright? I'm so-"
"Congratulations." Rose said quietly, the air crackling around her.
Snape took a step back. The marauders looked between themselves in confusion. "What?"
"Congratulations," She repeated. "You have invented a new kind of stupid. A 'damage you can never undo' kind of stupid." Snape paled further. "An 'open all the cages in the zoo' kind of stupid. 'Truly, you didn't think this through?' kind of stupid." Snape looked down at his hands. Sirius laughed but covered it as a cough after Remus' elbow. Rose's glare sharpened. "Let's review: You took a rumour a few, maybe two, people knew and refuted it by calling my sister a racial slur being the arsehole everyone accused you." Rose rubbed the brink of her nose "I begged you to take a break, you refused to." The marauders' mouths fell open. "So scared of what your enemies will do to you. You're the only enemy you ever seem to lose to. You know why Potter can do what he wants?" Rose asked snappily, gesturing to the boy. The schoolboy looked up in confusion. "He doesn't dignify school-yard taunts with a response! So yeah, congratulations!"
"Rose" Snape tried. The older Griffindor ignored him.
"You've redefined your legacy. Congratulations." Rose mused.
"It's the only way for acceptance!" Snape retorted. Rose stared at him like she'd been slapped. Potter was about to say something before Rose cut in.
"Acceptance," She repeated quietly. "I'm a mudblood who was failing to get a job in London. I lived only to read her letters. I look at you and think 'God, what have we done with our lives and what did it get us?'" Rose scoffed. "That doesn't wipe the tears or the years away but I'm back at Hogwarts and I'm here to stay. And you know what I'm here to do?"
"Rose-" Snape tried.
"I'm not here for you." Rose cut him off. Snape stared at her. "I know my sister like I know my own mind, you will never find anyone as trusting or as kind." The Griffindor smiled sadly. "And a million years ago she said to me 'this one's mine', so I stood by. Do you know why?" Rose's voice was rising. "I love my sister more than anything in this life! I will choose her happiness over mine every time!" Rose paused. "Lily…"
"Lily-" The marauders and Snape tried at the same time before glaring at each other.
"Is the best thing in our lives!" Rose snapped, gesturing around at all of them. "So never lose sight of the fact that you have been blessed with the best friend." Rose's cheeks glistened with tears. "Congratulations. For the rest of your life." Rose turned to Potter. "Every sacrifice you make is for my sister. Give her the best life." Snape's eyes widened in horror.
"Rose-" Snape tried again but Rose wasn't hearing it.
"Congratulations!" Rose snapped before turning sharply, leaving the marauders' and Snape with their mouths agape, her cloak billowing behind her.